I've gotten choose a second vehicle for fun. Cooper S or a Subaru WRX.
This will be my weekend car with occasional open track days at Willow or Laguna. S is unique and I expect handles better. Anyone got track time with S?

Being practical,my nearest dealer for S is 140 miles away, my resume includes 510, 240z, RX7, 2002, crx si so I'm not actually a junior

Welcome to Mini2,
It maybe worthwhile a look under the racing mini's section.

RX7 :cool:

more to the point... would you be planning on leaving the car standard or not?

Where on the Central Coast? I spend alot of time in Pacific Grove.

I can see from your cars list you love the classics (ok we won't mention the Honda;) ) I think a MINI would be a better fit in that stable.

Imagine hugging Highway 1 through Big Sur in the MINI, beautiful all around. In the WRX I'm afraid you would be a little bit of a blight on the landscape:p

And the nice smooth torque curve of the supercharger vs. disturbing lutch of of the turbo kicking in? What you wanna be 2 Fast 2 Furious? With the MINI you can pull up at the Lodge and fit right in, the WRX would only look at home in Salinas.

Evidently there is going to be a huge Mini vs MINI race weekend at Laguna Seca in October. That should be fun.

BTW Welcome to MINI2:)

Pismo Beach- My son was at the mini race last year. I Plan on stock, but that would be a first. Hwy 1 of course is perfect. Talked to Aaron in Denver who will sell for msrp and I will be a Pikes Peak end of the month. tempting!

Welcome to MINI2!

Your title of MINI2 Junior only refers to your post count, not your racing history. ;)

Both are great cars... right now I am rollin an 03 WRX, but will be aquiring an S soon(also, to compliment the "Dub")... I had a Cooper(non-S) before and loved it...
You really can't go wrong with either.

thanks for all the imput- S with sports package is the front runner

Originally posted by Spy Car
In the WRX I'm afraid you would be a little bit of a blight on the landscape

I agree that the WRX would be a blight on the landscape ... you'll smile when you sit behind the wheel of the MCS, and people will smile at you (as you pass them, of course).

Originally posted by jcam711
and people will smile at you (as you pass them, of course).

The Subaru community does the same thing... we always says what's up when we pass...

Howdy idl,

I vote MCS, - based on residual vale alone.

Nothing is standing up to the MCS right now! :)

If your "second vehicle for fun" is something you'll keep forever, then no worries, choose whichever.

But, if you want a change every few years, go for the MCS now. In 2 years, switch & get the WRX STi.

By then, the MCS will start to more fully enter the market & begin losing its star-type appeal of originality & rareness, while simultaneously the WRX STi will be a proven newer model, perhaps in an entirely new design.
[I'm not at all sure about the WRX's roadmap, - but if Subaru just "refreshed" the lights & front-end a bit, it generally means a more full model change is coming within a few years.]

-What else could a new MCS owner say?!? :D Personally, I bet the WRX STi is easily one of the best Driver's machines for the dollar, - if one can get past it's bland aestetics. :)

Welcome & good luck both ways, idl!

PS. Just for interest, are there WRX forums as good as MINI2?! :p
&
What are relative costs for Mod increases for the WRX camp? (Though, I suppose it needs just about None!)

-sb

If you can afford a WRX STi then go for that, it'll kill most performance cars out there...period, some of the people here have to get over their high horses, the Mini is a great car but the subaru is way more moddable and they have a ton of aftermarket support as well. AWD can really be a benefit as well and will handle better then a comporably equipped FWD car. I say tie, the Subaru will probably be faster with modifacations though, there is a ton of power upgrades for them and relatively little beyond that of bolt on's for the mini...just something to think about
Mike

I test drove a WRX the same day as the S

I bought a Cooper S!

yeah, the WRX is faster but it still drives like a sedan. It sounds like you are driving for the experience and not just to go 0-60. The Cooper is a high powered Go-cart. So, to me that makes it a very easy choice.

Get a cooper S

Originally posted by SugarBelly
PS. Just for interest, are there WRX forums as good as MINI2?! :p
&
What are relative costs for Mod increases for the WRX camp? (Though, I suppose it needs just about None!)

-sb

www.nasioc.com
www.clubwrx.net
www.wrxyz.com

Well... for the $4500+ for the S "Cooper Works" package (+ install) to go from 165hp to 200hp, you can spend about the same and go from 227hp to 375hp... Can you say "Power to weight ratio?" I will still have both cars in my garage, but the S will be for cruising, and the WRX for the power...